Transparency of EU informal trilogues through public feedback in the European Parliament : promise unfulfilled

Brandsma, Gijs Jan

Transparency of EU informal trilogues through public feedback in the European Parliament : promise unfulfilled

Files

Brandsma_2-1j3dmyjiqh0ss3.pdf(1.31 MB)

Date

2019

Publication type

Journal article

Publication status

Published

Published in

Journal of European Public Policy ; 26 (2019), 10. - pp. 1464-1483. - ISSN 1350-1763. - eISSN 1466-4429

Abstract

Significant parts of the EU’s legislative process remain shrouded in secrecy. In informal trilogues, representatives of the three main institutions negotiate compromises behind closed doors which are subsequently rubber-stamped in public meetings. While most research on (EU) transparency focuses on the availability of documents, this article investigates how much information on trilogue proceedings is shared with the general public through European Parliament (EP) committee meetings as the only forum to which public account must be rendered during the negotiation process. This article analyses the degree to which trilogues are reported back on, and the quality of feedback provided. Although the EP requires its trilogue negotiators to report back to its committees after each trilogue, the majority of trilogues is not reported back on at all, or not in time. Where feedback is given, its quality is often only poor. The EP thus does not deliver on its promises, which seriously undermines the legitimacy of the EU’s legislative process.

Subject (DDC)

320 Politics

Keywords

Accountability, European Parliament, legitimacy, ordinary legislative procedure, transparency, trilogues

Cite This

ISO 690

BRANDSMA, Gijs Jan, 2019. Transparency of EU informal trilogues through public feedback in the European Parliament : promise unfulfilled. In: Journal of European Public Policy. 26(10), pp. 1464-1483. ISSN 1350-1763. eISSN 1466-4429. Available under: doi: 10.1080/13501763.2018.1528295

BibTex

@article{Brandsma2019-10-03Trans-45175,
  year={2019},
  doi={10.1080/13501763.2018.1528295},
  title={Transparency of EU informal trilogues through public feedback in the European Parliament : promise unfulfilled},
  number={10},
  volume={26},
  issn={1350-1763},
  journal={Journal of European Public Policy},
  pages={1464--1483},
  author={Brandsma, Gijs Jan}
}

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Refereed

Yes